By Francis Chipalo
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Grace Mutembo, has reaffirmed her country’s commitment to advancing economic diplomacy and regional integration through strengthened partnerships in agriculture and agribusiness.
She said this is in line with President Hakainde Hichilema’s vision of transforming Zambia into the food basket of the region.
Speaking when she received Dr. Theo De Jager, Chairman of Agri-O Africa, and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Dirk Hanekom at the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria, Mutembo emphasized that agriculture remains central to Zambia’s vision for sustainable economic transformation.
“Agriculture is not only about food security but also about wealth creation. Through collaboration and investment in modern, organized farming, Zambia aims to empower communities, promote regional trade, and drive industrial growth, thereby contributing to the realization of President Hichilema’s vision,” Mutembo said.
Mutembo further noted that Zambia’s strong and consistent agricultural policies continue to attract regional partnerships and that the country’s growing engagement in structured farming networks reflects the government’s commitment to developing agriculture as a business and an engine of economic diplomacy.
“President Hichilema’s administration is committed to creating an enabling environment for agricultural growth, and we are confident that our partnerships with organizations like Agri-O Africa will help us achieve this goal,”Mutembo added.
Meanwhile, Dr. De Jager commended Zambia’s agricultural outlook, noting that Agri-O Africa, which represents organized farming associations in 44 countries, views Zambia as one of the most promising and fastest-growing partners in the region.
“Zambia has demonstrated great potential through its clear policies that protect and support farmers to grow for profit. We are keen to build on that momentum through stronger cooperation,” said Dr. De Jager.
And Hanekom highlighted the critical role of innovation and technology in transforming agriculture across Africa.
“Our goal is to modernize agriculture through artificial intelligence, improved logistics, and sustainable farming systems that ensure productivity and competitiveness across Africa,” he stated.
This is contained in a statement issued by Alexander Musokotwane, First Secretary (Press and Public Relations) Zambia High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa.